Singing of Psalms a Gospel-ordinance, or, A TreatiseSinging of Psalmes a Gospel-ordinance, or, A Treatise

And for the English Tunes that we use in singing of Psalms, take this for a ground; Since God hath commanded us to sing Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs, and amongst others, those of David: and yet withal hath hid from us the Hebrew Tunes, and the musical Accents wherewith the Psalms of David were wont to be sung. It must needs be that the Lord alloweth us to sing them in any such grave, and solemn, and plain Tunes, as do fitly suite the gravity of the matter, the solemnity of Gods worship, and the capacity of a plain People. As, to instance in a like case, when the Lord instituted the Paschal Supper, and therein a whole Lamb to be eaten, the head, feet, and purtenances, and made no mention what drink they should use in it, whether wine, or water, or beer, or other liquor; It was therefore left to their liberty, to use any such liquor as they were wont to drink fit for such meat as was to be eaten, and for such stomachs as were to feed upon it: So here when the Lord appointed us to sing Davids Psalms, and doth not appoint us in what Tunes, He therefore plainly leaveth us to our liberty, to make use of such Tunes as are suitable to such an Ordinance▪ and to them that partake in it.

And for the English Tunes that wee use in singing of Psalmes, take this for a ground; Since God hath commanded us to sing Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs, and amongst others, those of David: and yet withall hath hid from us the Hebrew Tunes, and the musicall Accents wherewith the Psalmes of David were wont to be sung. It must needs be that the Lord alloweth us to sing them in any such grave, and solemne, and plaine Tunes, as doe fitly suite the gravitie of the matter, the solemnitie of Gods worship, and the capacitie of a plaine People. As, to instance in a like case, when the Lord instituted the Paschall Supper, and therein a whole Lambe to be eaten, the head, feet, and purtenances, and made no mention what drinke they should use in it, whether wine, or water, or beere, or other liquor; It was therefore left to their libertie, to use any such liquor as they were wont to drinke fit for such meate as was to be eaten, and for such stomacks as were to feed upon it: So here when the Lord appointed us to sing Davids Psalmes, and doth not appoint us in what Tunes, He therefore plainly leaveth us to our libertie, to make use of such Tunes as are suitable to such an Ordinance▪ and to them that partake in it.